Trinity Sunday May 18, 2008

John 3:16-18  Even non-Christians know the message communicated when they see a banner reading “JOHN 3:16” hanging over the railing at a baseball or football game. In this, possibly the most quoted verse of the entire New Testament, is contained very core of both Jesus’ identity and mission. Verse 17 continues this beautiful straight-forward statement of Jesus’ mission. Not so verse 18, however, which opens the door to controversy regarding scriptural interpretation on two fronts. Is it sufficient to merely believe to avoid eternal condemnation? Are all people who do not believe in Jesus automatically condemned? The Catholic Church would respond “NO” to both of those questions. The reasoning is stated most clearly in paragraphs 14 through 16 of the “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church” promulgated during the Second Vatican Council on November 21, 1964. We believe Christians will be judged not merely on belief (which can be understood as merely intellectual assent) but on faith (which is a response of the whole person to God). We also believe that God’s judgment will not hold people responsible to a belief structure with which they are not familiar or have never heard in a convincing way. Individuals will be judged according to how they have followed what they believe about God and God’s will. Whether or not they know Jesus Christ personally, it will be his grace which allows them to enter into eternal glory.

Reading 1, Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 When Moses was coming down the mountain with the original stones upon which God had engraved the commandments, his anger flared up on seeing the golden calf and hearing the revelry in the Israelite camp. He hurled the stones toward the camp below, breaking them to pieces on the rocks at the base of the mountain. Returning now with two new stones he himself had fashioned, Moses will receive the tablets which the Israelites will guard for centuries in the Ark of the Covenant. Since the first time on the mountain, Moses had spent a great deal of time in conversation with God about the Israelite people who had rejected both God and Moses and for whom they both felt a sense of responsibility as their people. Moses had bonded even more closely with God to the point that God had told him “You are my intimate friend” (Exodus 33:17). Several times in their conversations the people are labeled as “stiff-necked” (a word coined by William Tyndale for a 1526 English translation of the Bible), referring to an obstinacy or unwillingness to turn one’s head and glance from what one wants to do or where one wants to go.

Reading II, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13  This is the conclusion of the letter. While I end some letters with the common “Sincerely”, I close more personal letters with a petition for God’s blessing upon the recipient and the phrase “In Christ”. Paul most commonly ends his letters with a statement about Jesus. 1 Corinthians: “The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.” Galatians: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” Ephesians: “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality.” Philippians: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” The second letter to the Corinthians post-dates these other letters. It is possible that Paul’s more Trinitarian statement here is in response to questions being raised about the exact relationship of Jesus to the Father and the Spirit.

Comments

[Robby Fundy]

Jesus is like a catalìst an agent of creation and recreation

[Robby Fundy]

Jesus is like a catalìst an agent of creation and recreation